Show One Entertainment presents the Canadian debut of The Three Tenors of the Holy Land, a dazzling – new trio that has taken Israel and Europe by storm. Three of the world’s finest male voices unite in an unforgettable evening of opera, show tunes, Russian, Jewish and other international favourites. In the only Canadian stop on their 10-performance North American debut tour, the trio performs Tuesday, December 12, 8 p.m. at Toronto’s Beth Tzedec Synagogue 1700 Bathurst Street.

For more information, visit www.showoneproductions.ca. For group sales, contact Show One Entertainment, 416-737-6785

Thanks to the generous contribution of Alex Shnaider, a portion of the proceeds from the December 12 concert will be donated to the UJA Federation’s Israel Emergency Campaign 2007.

International opera star Yevgeni Shapovalov – called “the Israeli Pavarotti” by the media in Israel – formed The Three Tenors of the Holy Land in 2005 with his acclaimed operatic colleagues Felix Livshitz and Vladislav Goray. All originally from the former Soviet Union, Shapovalov and Livshitz now make their homes in Israel, while Goray remains a Ukrainian citizen. Since their 2005 debut, they have given over 100 sold-out concerts in Israel and Europe, delighting audiences with their breathtaking performances, tinged with humour and nostalgia. Even during the recent hostilities, concerts were sold out in Israel!

Joining the singers is another former U.S.S.R. emigré, pianist Igor Naymark, whom celebrated conductor Zubin Mehta has called “the last romantic of our century.” Naymark lives in Tel Aviv and is a frequent soloist with the Tel Aviv Symphony Orchestra.

This is a “Three Tenors” with a difference! The program will include some of the signature operatic favourites – such as famous arias from Verdi’s Rigoletto and Puccini’s ever-popular Nessun Dorma from Turandot – and a good selection of such Neapolitan numbers as Santa Lucia and Matinata. But complementing these will be Jewish favorites in Hebrew and Yiddish, among them Naomi Shemer’s Yerushalaim shel zachav (Jerusalem of Gold), My Yiddishe Mama, and Tumbalalaika; and such popular Russian tunes as Ochi Chorniya (Dark Eyes) and Dorogi Dlinnoyu (Those Were the Days) Gershwin and other American show tunes combine with other songs from abroad to complete an unforgettable evening.

The December 12 concert marks the third return of Yevgeni Shapovalov, who has won Toronto fans in two previous concerts. Rick Kardonne of the Jewish Tribune described his “stunning performance” for a Beit Halochem benefit to aid disabled veterans of Israel, “From his stocky frame comes a powerful tenor voice, which performs with equal ease Russian folk songs, operatic classics, and Israeli pop songs in which he blended beautifully with (Shlomit) Aharon. His renditions of the most well-known ballad from Les Miserables, which he sung in Hebrew, earned a standing ovation,” wrote Kardonne.

BIOS

Yevgeni Shapovalov, frequently called “The Golden Voice of Israel,” was born in Belarus and trained in Ukraine. In Israel, he studied with Tamar Rahum at the Rubin Academy of Music in Tel Aviv and eventually becoming an indelible part of the Israeli music scene. Throughout Shapovalov’s illustrious career, he has performed opera and classical music as well as international folk music. His voice is a staple in any of Israel’s holiday concerts and country-wide celebrations, and TV and radio shows, with many gold records sold worldwide. A recipient of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation scholarship, Shapovalov performs frequently in such venues and with such companies as Carnegie Hall, the Opéra National de Paris, New York City Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. In recent years, his powerful and expressive voice and unparalleled stage presence have made Shapovalov one of Israel’s and the world’s favorite artists, and earned him the nickname “the Israeli Pavarotti!”

Felix Livshitz studied voice in his hometown of Donetsk, Ukraine, and was a soloist with the Kiev Singers Competition Company, touring extensively in Europe and the Americas. Since immigrating to Israel, Livshitz has established himself among the country’s leading classical tenors, participating as principal soloist both on the concert stage and in many operas and oratorios, and performing with the world’s most renowned maestros – among them Zubin Mehta and Valery Gergiev. Livshitz performs regularly with the Israel Philharmonic, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and other of Israel’s leading orchestras. His powerful but round and pure lyric tenor has conquered audiences at home and abroad.

Vladislav Goray came to Israel in after a stellar career in his native Ukraine, where in 1993 he received his Ph.D in Voice from the State Odessa Conservatory of Music. Having toured extensively in Europe, Goray has amassed a variety of leading roles, and is a laureate of several prestigious vocal competitions. As a result of several competition successes – including the Karlovy–Vary (Czech) International Competition for Singers in 1995 – Goray began an illustrious concert and recording career, performing throughout Europe. He is currently a soloist with the Israeli Opera.